MXPA00008617A - Easy-open composite container with a membrane-type closure - Google Patents

Abstract

An easy-open composite container (10) has a membrane-type closure (11) and includes a laminated tubular body member (13) of composite materials having a predetermined laminated strength. The body member (13) includes a bodywall portion (20) and a liner portion (21) positioned inside the bodywall portion (20) and forming an inside surface (15) of the body member (13). An outwardly-rolled rim portion (30) is formed at the upper area of an open upper end (17) of the tubular body member (13) and the liner portion (21) forms a top surface of the body member open upper end (17) and an outside surface of the outwardly rolled rim portion (30). A cut (35) extends circumferentially around a segment of the outside surface of the rim portion (30) and extends radially-inwardly through at least a part of the liner portion (21). A membrane closure (11) covers the open upper end of the body member (13) and has an outwardly extending tab portion (36) positioned over the cut (35) in the rim portion (30 ) of the body member (13). A bond is formed between the top surface of the body member open upper end (17) and the membrane member (11) for hermetically closing such open upper end (17). This bond has a predetermined strength greater than the laminated strength of the tubular body member (13) and sufficient to prevent leakage caused by internal pressure within the container (10). With the above construction, the composite container (10) can be easily opened by pulling the pull tab portion (36) of the membrane closure member (11) which causes radial delamination of a segment (30') of the body member rim portion (30) at the cut (35) in the rim portion (30) to provide an easy start for removing the membrane member (11) with the delaminated rim portion segment (30') from the remainder of the body member rim portion (30) of the container (10).

Description

MIXED BODY CONTAINER OF EASY OPENING WITH A MEMBRANE TYPE CLOSURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mixed body package having a membrane-type closure at one end thereof, which provides sufficient strength to withstand the internal pressure and, at the same time, allows it to be easily opened without tearing the membrane during the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mixed-body containers (usually spirally wound) are used to package a wide variety of products, including food products, such as PRINGLES® chips. These mixed-body containers, in general, have a metal end attached to their bottom and a membrane attached to the upper end of the mixed-body container, which often has a flange bent outward at the upper end to receive the membrane. The junction between the membrane and the bent flange facing away from the mixed body package, as well as the metal end of the infeed part of the mixed body package, must be airtight and have sufficient strength to withstand the high internal pressures developed within the body. container at high altitudes and / or temperatures after being filled with a food product or the like. The junction between the membrane and the flange of the mixed body container also has to be weak enough to be easily opened without tearing the membrane during opening. These opposing structural features have presented problems: either the binding of the membrane to the package is too weak to withstand the internal pressures developed at high altitudes and / or temperatures, or too strong to allow a simple opening without tearing the membrane.

OBJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide an easy-open mixed-body package having a membrane-type closure, the connection between the closure of the membrane and the container body being strong enough to withstand very high pressures generated within of the container at high altitudes and / or temperatures, and that it is sufficiently weak to allow easy opening without breaking the membrane. By this invention, it has been found that the above-described object can be achieved by an easy-open mixed-body package having a membrane-type closure and comprising the following. A laminated tubular body element of mixed materials (preferably spiral in shape) having a predetermined rolling resistance (preferably laminated with an appropriate adhesive), defined internal and external surfaces and an open top end. The body member includes the wall portion of the body, as well as a portion of the liner positioned within the wall of the body, which constitute the interior surface of the body member. An edge portion rolled outwardly in an upper area of the open upper end of the tubular body member, and the coating portion forms an upper surface of the open upper end of the body member and an outer surface of the edge portion. rolled outwards. A cut extends circumferentially around a segment of the outer surface of the edge portion, and extends radially inwardly, through at least a portion of the coating portion. A membrane closure element with a shape substantially corresponding to that of the open upper end of the body member has a tongue portion extending outwardly from the outer peripheral area. The membrane closure element is placed on the upper surface of the open upper end of the body with the tongue on the cut of the edge portion. A joint (preferably a thermal seal) is formed between the upper surface of the open upper end of the body and the membrane to seal the open upper end. The joint has a predetermined strength greater than the laminated strength of the tubular body member and is sufficient to prevent leakage caused by internal pressure within the container.

The above-described mixed body package can be easily opened by pulling the tab portion of the membrane closure element, which causes radial delamination of a segment of the body member that is in the cutting of the edge portion to provide a start easy to remove the membrane element with the delaminated segment from the edge portion of the rest of the edge portion of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of this invention have been described above, but other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention (shown below), when taken together with the drawings that the accompany, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view with its separate parts of an easy-open mixed body package having a membrane-type closure and closure and which is made in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken, generally, along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and through the upper end of the mixed body pack with the membrane and the lid in a position without their parts separate; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail, taken inside circle 3 of figure 2, and illustrating the cut extending radially inwardly of the edge portion rolled outwardly from the upper end of the element of tubular body; Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the upper end of the easy-open mixed body package showing the removal of the membrane closure; Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views through a portion of the upper end of the easy-open mixed-body package, which show progressive steps of the membrane as it is easily removed from the mixed body package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY OF THE INVENTION Next, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, this invention can be manufactured in many different ways and its elaboration should not be limited to the modality set forth herein, but this modality is provided so that the description is complete and fully transmits the scope of the invention to the experts in the art. matter. Like reference numbers refer to the same elements throughout the description. An easy-open mixed-body container 10 with a membrane-type closure 11 and made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figure 1. Although the image appears with a circular cross-section, the package 10 may have any transverse shape and incorporate the novel features of this invention, which will be described later. Another example is the container, generally rectangular in shape, with rounded edges. The type of easy-open mixed-body package illustrated in Figure 1 is especially useful for packaging food products, such as PRINGLES® chips, which generally includes membrane-type closure 11 and a reusable plastic lid 12 placed on the membrane closure 11, prior to opening the package (as shown in Figure 2). The easy-open mixed-body package 10 includes a laminated tubular body 13 made of mixed materials and has a predetermined rolling resistance, defined internal and external surfaces 15, 16 and an open upper end 17. As can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2, the body 13 includes a wall portion 20 and a liner portion 21 positioned within the wall portion of the body 20, which form the interior surface of the body member 15. The wall portion 20 is comprised of a relatively thick and rigid cardboard layer, well known to those skilled in the art. The coating 21 comprises, preferably, a layer of Kraft paper 22 laminated to the paperboard layer 20 and to the aluminum foil layer 23 or other suitable material to provide strength and insulation properties to the coating. The coating layer portion 21 also includes an inner polymer cover 24, which forms the inner surface 15 of the tubular body element 13. The Kraft paper 22 layer and the aluminum foil 23 layer can be laminated together and to the layer of cardboard of the body 20 by means of appropriate adhesives, such as PVA (polyvinyl 7-acetate) to provide the resistance to the desired laminate, which is preferably between about 8.92 kg / m and 214.29 kg / m. The tubular body member 13 may also include a label portion 25 laminated to the exterior of the wall of the body 20, by suitable adhesives or the like, and which forms the outer surface 16. The wall portion of the body 20, the covering portion 21 and the label portion 25 can be spirally wound and laminated together to form a spiral tubular structure, in a manner that is well understood by those skilled in the art and which, for example, is described in more detail in the assignee's patent. 5,846,619 (the description of which is incorporated herein by reference), recently issued in the United States. The laminated tubular body 13 of mixed materials includes an outwardly rolled edge 30 formed in an upper area of the open upper end 17. The covering portion 21 forms a top surface of the open upper end of the body 17 and an outer surface of the portion of edge rolled outwards 30 (as can be clearly seen in figure 2). A cut 35 extends circumferentially around a segment of the outer surface of the edge portion 30 and extends radially and inwardly through at least part of the cover 21 (as seen in Figures 2 and 3) . Preferably, the cut 35 extends radially and inwardly of the edge portion 30 through the polymer cover 24, the foil layer 23 and, at least partially, through the Kraft paper layer 22. of the liner 21. The cut 35 extends circumferentially, preferably around the segment, between 2 ° and 35 °, of the outer surface of the edge portion (as indicated in Figure 4). The membrane closure element 11 has a shape substantially corresponding to the open upper end of the body 17 and has a tongue portion 36 extending outward from the outer peripheral area. The membrane closure element 11 is placed on the upper surface of the open upper end of the body 17, which is formed by a polymer coating 24 of the coating 21, and the tongue of the membrane 36 is placed over the cut 35 there is. at the edge 30 of the tubular body 13. The membrane closure element 11 may include a layer of aluminum foil (aluminum or the like) 37 and an inner polymer cover 38 (as shown in Figure 2). A joint (which can be heat-sealed) is formed between the upper surface of the open upper end of the body 17 (constituted by the polymer coating 24 of the coating layer portion 21) and the inner surface of the membrane closure element 11 ( formed by the polymer coating 38) for a sealing of the open upper end 17 of the body 13 of the container 10. This joint, indicated with the number 39 of Figure 2, has a predetermined rolling resistance greater than the rolling resistance of the tubular body and that is sufficient to prevent leakage caused by internal pressure within the container 10. This predetermined bond strength is preferable between approximately 17.85 kg / m and 267.86 kg / m. The lower end of the tubular body member 13 of the container 10 can be closed by any suitable closure 40 (a piece of corrugated metal or the like) to maintain the seal of the container 10. With the structure of the mixed body container described above. and membrane type closure 11, the package 10 can be easily opened by removing the lid 12 and pulling the tab 36 of the membrane closure member 11, which causes radial delamination of a segment 30 'of the edge portion 30 of the body 13 in the cut 35 (as shown in FIG. shown in Figures 5 and 6) to provide a simple start to remove the membrane closure 11 with the segment of the delaminated edge portion 30 'of the remainder of the edge portion 30 of the body 13 of the container 10 (as seen in FIG. Figures 4 and 6). Accordingly, an easy-open mixed-body container 10 having a membrane-type closure 11, as well as a junction 39 between the membrane closure 11 and the body member 13 which is strong enough to withstand a pressure is provided. very high developed inside the container after filling it with food products or the like, and high altitudes and / or temperatures, but which is weak enough to allow easy opening of the container 10 without tearing the membrane closure element 11. Many Modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of the person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains and will have the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and in the appended drawings. Therefore, it is clear that the invention should not be limited to the specific modality described; likewise, it is intended to include other modalities within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, although the mixed body package whose structure conforms to this invention has been described first in relation to food products, it should be clarified that the package of this invention could be used with other products. Although specific terms are used in the detailed description above, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for limitation purposes.

Claims (6)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. An easy-open mixed-body package having a membrane-type closure and consisting of: a laminated tubular body element of mixed materials having a predetermined rolling resistance, defined inner and outer surfaces and an open upend; likewise, it includes a wall portion and a coating portion positioned within the wall portion of the body and forming the inner surface of said body; an outer-wrapped edge that is formed in an uparea of the open upend of the tubular body, further characterized in that the covering portion forms an upsurface of said open upend of the body member and an outer surface of the portion of rolled edge towards the outside; a cut that extends both circumferentially around a segment of the outer surface of the edge portion, and radially inward through at least a portion of the coating; a membrane closure element with a shape substantially corresponding to the open upend of the body, having a tongue extending outward from the outer pheral area, which is located on the upsurface of the open upend of the body member and having a tongue that covers the cutting of the edge portion; and a joint between the upsurface of the open upend of the body and the membrane to achieve a hermetic closure of said open upend. The joint has a predetermined strength greater than the rolling resistance of the tubular body, which is sufficient to prevent leakage caused by the internal pressure of the container, whereby said mixed body package can be easily opened by pulling the tongue of the membrane, the which causes radial delamination of a segment of the edge portion of the body in said segment of the cut to provide an easy start by removing the membrane closure with the segment of the delaminated edge portion of the remnant of the edge portion of the body.

2. An easy-open mixed-body container having a membrane-type closure according to claim 1, further characterized in that the laminated tubular body element of mixed materials is composed of a structure wound in a spiral and including an adhesive between the body wall and the liner, providing a rolling resistance of between 8.92 kg / m and 214.29 kg / m, and because said joining between the upsurface of the open upend of the body element and the membrane comprises a thermal seal that provides a bond strength of between 17.85 kg / m and 267.86 kg / m.

3. An easy-open mixed-body container having a membrane-type closure, according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the wall portion of the tubular body is composed of a cardboard layer and that the portion of The lining of the tubular body member carries a layer of Kraft palaminated to the paoard layer and an aluminum foil layer laminated to the Kraft palayer and having an inner polymer coating to effect the bonding between the open upend of the element of body and membrane closing element.

4. An easy-open mixed body container having a membrane-type closure, according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the membrane closure element has a layer of aluminum foil and an inner polymer coating to orm the connection between the open upend of the body element and the membrane closing element.

5. An easy-open mixed body package having a membrane-type closure, according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the cut extends circumferentially around a segment, between 2 ° and 35 °, of the outer surface of the edge portion.

6. An easy-open mixed-body container having a membrane-type closure, according to claims 3, 4 or 5, further characterized in that the cut extends radially inwardly of the edge portion through the polymer cover, the aluminum foil layer and, at least partially, through the Kraft paper layer of the casing of the tubular body, and because said cut extends around a segment of between 2 ° and 35 ° of the surface outside of the edge portion. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An easy-open mixed body package has a membrane-type closure and a laminated tubular body element of mixed materials with a predetermined rolling resistance; the body member includes a wall portion and a liner portion positioned within the wall portion of the body and constituting the interior surface of the body member; a rolled edge is formed outward in the upper area of the open upper end of the tubular body member and the covering portion forms the upper surface of the open upper end of the body member and the outer surface of the rolled edge portion outwardly; a cut extends circumferentially around a segment of the outer surface of the edge portion, and extends radially inwardly, through at least a portion of the skin; a membrane closing element covers the open upper end of the body and has a tongue that extends outwards and which is placed on the cut located on the edge of the body; there is a joint between the upper surface of the open upper end of the body member and the membrane closure element to achieve a hermetic closure of said open upper end; this joint has a predetermined strength greater than the rolling resistance of the tubular body, which is sufficient to prevent leakage caused by the internal pressure of the container. With the above structure, the mixed body package can be easily opened by pulling on the tab of the membrane, which causes radial delamination of a segment of the edge portion of the body member in the cutting of the edge portion to provide a simple start by removing the membrane closure element with the segment of the delaminated edge portion from the remainder of the edge portion of the container body. MR / avc * P00 / 1142